System and method for building ornamental flame displays

ABSTRACT

A modular burner system includes a nipple elongated along an axis and a plurality of jets connected to the nipple. The jets are spaced from each other along the axis. Each jet connected to the nipple has a jet axis and is elongated from the nipple along the jet axis. Each jet connected to the nipple has an exit on the jet axis spaced from the nipple to release fuel to fuel a flame at the exit. The jet axis of at least one of the jets connected to the nipple is at a first angle relative to the axis and the jet axis of at least one of the jets connected to the nipple is at a second angle relative to the axis different than the first angle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/741,938, filed on Jan. 14, 2020, which claims priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/219,136, filed on Jul. 25, 2016 and issued asU.S. Pat. No. 10,571,117, which claims priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/201,025, filed on Aug. 4, 2015, all of which arehereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application relates to a system and method for creating ornamentalfire displays. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, to asystem that uses sets of brass pipe sections and connectors that allowthe sections to be joined and provide support for jets that use the“Venturi effect” to mix gas and air to produce a low-heat flame of adesired color. The connectors thus allow positioning of the jets tocreate a bright, wide, ornamental flame with a natural appearance of awood fire. Natural wood fire is characterized by its orange,yellowish-orange color, and movement or “dancing” appearance.

BACKGROUND

The use of fire and torches that produce flames for the purpose ofproviding illumination is well known. Additionally, the calming andcomfort that that people innately draw from watching a campfire or othermoderately warm flame is widely understood and appreciated by people ofall cultures. In order to take advantage of these aspects of fire, manymanufacturers have offered fire pits that burn natural and/or LP gas. Anexample of such devices can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,887 toOliver, Jr. et. al., incorporated herein by reference. Another suchdevice is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No.20070224560 to Stainrod et al. However, a problem associated with flamesproduced by known devices is that the flames are often blue, or theyappear rushed due to the fact that they are burning a gas that isejected from a jet. The ejected flame has little opportunity to behavelike a flame from a log, and thus does not provide the ambiance createdby a wood fire. Still further, fast flowing gas flames can produceinordinate amounts of heat, forcing the user to compromise and settlefor a small flame in exchange for comfort and safety.

Additionally, a significant limitation of known devices that are usedfor burning natural gas, such as in a fireplace or in a fire pit, isthat these systems are not readily customizable. Specifically, thesystems have to fit within standard size fireplaces or fire pits. Thus,architects and other designers have to compromise as to the shape orsize of the fireplaceor pit, which may not always optimal for thearchitectural or aesthetic needs of the room or structure that willhouse the flames.

Still further, known devices typically use a single manifold, which isoften a hollow ring, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,539,420 to Kerr,incorporated herein by reference. The Kerr asserts that an object of hisdevice “is to group the jets in a particular way to gain the maximumheating effects within a given area without causing a malfunction inmixing and burning.” Thus, Kerr uses the hollow ring in combination withnozzles that are positioned closely to one another in order to create anarea of intense heat for heating water, for example. Thus, the ringmanifold of Kerr includes perforations and nozzles that release gas tobe burned in a concentrated area, such as immediately below a kettle orwater tank.

Moreover, the Kerr's nozzles are mounted from bosses that point the airand fuel mixture ejected from the nozzles in directions that result in acollision of the streams of air and fuel mixture ejected from thenozzles to collide with one another, and thereby create “sheets” offlames that burn blue in color.

A known fire pit system, shown in U.S. Pat. No. 9,125,516, incorporatedherein by reference, uses a manifold that has a multitude of holes. Themanifold is filled with gas, and then the gas is allowed to escapethrough the holes of the manifold. The released gas is then burned as itencounters air outside of the manifold. This approach is veryinefficient in terms of the creation of voluminous flames that arevisible and in terms of heat radiated from the flames. The absence ofnozzles results in little control over the flow of the gas, and thusresults in inefficient burning and results in small, low-volume, flameswith little movement.

Another limitation of known devices is that typically they cannot beeasily customized to nest into fire pits or support areas of differentsizes. Still further, many gas fire pit designs use a single pad,ring-shaped, or close-looped manifold that provide a centralized flamearea. This approach is inherently inefficient because it creates eithera focused region of flames and a focused high-temperature region, or alarge area with small flames. The large area of small flames is aproduct of the fact that a manifold with numerous apertures will resultin rapid pressure loss along the manifold, which in turn results insmall flames. The use of large number of small flames results in lowbrightness and a generally dull fire pit.

The use of pre-fabricated, single manifold designs has yet additionallimitations. One important limitation is that they are not particularlywell suited for accommodating pits of different shapes. Thus, they donot allow an architect or designer the flexibility in routing of theburner system, so as to accommodate variations in fire pit designs norare they well suited for reliable, repeatable, installation in thefield. While it is possible to link several pre-fabricated manifoldstogether, the use of these systems for providing decorative flamearrangements presents important problems and creates a need for a systemthat produces reliable connections in a repeatable manner. A decorativeflame system must lend itself to predictable, repeatable assembly ofarrangements, without the need for highly trained technicians.

Prior systems relied heavily on commercially available galvanized gaspipe and mating end caps. In these systems the gas pipe required thecutting of sections of pipe, and the addition of threads that accept theend caps. The pipe along with jets would then be assembled though theuse of common plumbing tools, such as pipe wrenches. However, thisapproach resulted in problems associated with marring of the surfaces ofthe assembly. The scars left by the tools needed to assemble thegalvanized pipe systems inherently produced arrangements that with theunfinished appearance of uncovered plumbing.

Moreover, creating reliable connections and seals at the joints of thesections of pipe were concern. Installers had to rely on experience asto the adequate torque levels for the galvanized pipe connections.Additionally, the use of galvanized pipe end caps, particularly thosemade of galvanized steel, resulted in assemblies that were unreliable interms of torque and resulting gas-tightness, and were aestheticallyunpleasant. Specifically, the use of galvanized pipe and end capscreated problems in verifying that proper amounts of torque had beenapplied to the sections of pipe so as to ensure a gas-tight seal. Thusit has been discovered that the use of galvanized steel tubing forcreating the support sections for nozzles or jets that are used tocreate ornamental fire pits and displays has several significantdisadvantages.

It has been discovered that the use of jets, which draw air and mix theair with gas flowing through the system, provide significant advantagesover simply using plenums with apertures that allow gas to escape andburn. However, there also remains a need for an attachment of the jetsto a gas distribution system that provides support for the jets, whileat the same time providing an aesthetically pleasing, hermetic, routingfor the flammable gas used to create the ornamental flames. One approachfor providing jet support would be to weld or solder a boss to thecomponents of the gas distribution system to support the jets. This isthe approach used shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,539,420 to Kerr, discussedabove, which uses fixed bosses that support jets with relatively largeside apertures to create a tight, circular pattern, of high-temperatureflames. However, this approach would greatly increase the cost of thecomponents by increasing the amount of material used to create thesystem, and increasing the amount of machining needed to create thebosses. Additionally, a distribution system with integral, one piece,bosses lack the necessary adaptability to allow the assembly of firepits of various sizes and shapes. Thus systems that have plenums withbosses at pre-established, fixed, locations allow creation ofarrangements that use only the fixed locations of the bosses for themounting of jets.

Therefore, a review of known devices reveals that there remains a needfor an efficient system for creating flames for use in a decorative firepit and produce controlled ornamental flame features for architecturaldesign use, or for use as an independent ornamental flame display.

There remains a need for a system with components that allow the user toform a variety of flame patterns in a predictable and reliable manner.

There remains a need for a system that allows the creation of a varietyof flame patterns, without requiring different castings with differentboss locations.

There remains a need for a system that creates tall, orange-tone gasflames of relatively low temperature, as compared with blue gas flamescommonly used for cooking or soldering.

There remains a need for a system that can be used with known, widelyavailable, gasified fuel delivery systems, and that allow the creationof a large flame area or large flame volume, with a relatively smallamount of gas.

Still further, there remains a need for a system that allows the user tospread out the flame jet locations, and use the positions of the flamejets to create a voluminous flame pattern, which results in moreefficient distribution of light produced by the individual jets.

There remains a need for a system that allows the user to spread out theflame jet locations, and use the jet positioning to create a voluminousflame pattern with correspondingly distributed heat or flame sources,which will result in efficient distribution of heat and light producedby the individual jets used with the system. There remains a need for asystem that allows the creation of ornamental flames along a lineimmediately above a pool of water.

SUMMARY

It has been discovered that the problems left unanswered by known artcan be solved by providing a system that uses jet support sections andjet support connections to allow the user to create a gas deliverypattern that results in broad swirling of the gas being delivered, andin turn in thorough combustion of the gas delivered, which in turnresults in wide dispersion of heat and light produced with the flames.The wide dispersion of the flames in turn results in reduced heatconcentration, while at the same time resulting in broad dispersion oflight. Additionally, the disclosed system allows arrangement of the jetsin a manner that creates flow of a combustible mixture of air andliquefied petroleum (“LP”) gas or natural gas. The mixture being of aration that does not create a flame that burns at dangerous orunmanageable temperatures, while at the same time creating a fullerwider natural dancing ornamental flame than achieved with devices in theprior art.

Still further, it has been discovered that the disclosed system allowsthe creation of ornamental pools with ornamental flames rising from justabove the water. This not only provides the display of the flamescreated with the system, but also allows the flames to be reflected fromthe water, creating a particularly pleasing ornamental flame display.

According to an example disclosed here, the system uses jet supportsections are formed from straight sections brass pipe, commonly referredto as nipples. The nipples will extend along a nipple axis and mayinclude at least one aperture for accepting or creating a gas jet or jetthat will deliver a stream of gas along a jet axis. The jet will bepositioned along the nipple. The pipe nipple is preferably threaded toallow the user to point the jet at a desired angle to the plane of thesection of pipe supporting the jet. In other words, if the nipple axisextends a generally horizontal plane, then a plane defined by the jetaxis and the nipple axis will be at an angle to the horizontal plane. Insome of the disclosed assemblies the nipple axis is often at 45 degreesto the axis of the jet, or the axis of the jet may be vertical.Accordingly, the angle of the jet relative to the nipple or conduitsupporting the nipple may be varied in order to achieve different flameeffects, such as swirling of the flames, or to create an arrangementwhere the flames fill a large volume without releasing large amounts ofheat. For example, a large fireplace for a hotel lobby may be built andthe hearth filled with flames formed using the disclosed inventiveprinciples. The flames could be used to surround synthetic logs, andwould provide the desired volume of a large fire without the danger andheat discomfort created by a wood fire of similar size. In other words,the disclosed system is particularly efficient in creating voluminousflames. Accordingly, flames created with the disclosed system may alsobe incorporated in back-yard fire pits or ornamental pools, and thusprovide the attractiveness of a flame, while greatly reducing the dangerof a similarly-sized fire created with wood, for example.

The support connections of disclosed examples might themselves includeat least one aperture for accepting or feeding a gas jet or jet todeliver a stream of gas along a jet axis.

Thus, the disclosed system may be assembled to create a straight-linepattern, with a pair of long nipples extending from I-shaped supportconnector with a vertical inlet, each long nipple having multiple jetsextending from each nipple. An “H” pattern could also with a I-shapedsupport connector with a vertical inlet and a pair of opposing nipplesextending from the vertical inlet. Each of the opposing nipples may inturn support another I-shaped support connector, each of the I-shapedsupport connectors supported from the nipples having an inlet and asecond pair of opposing nipples. The second pairs of opposing nippleswould have an aperture for accepting or creating a gas jet or jet. Theopposing nipples would be a pair of blind opposing nipples, and thusforcing any gas entering into the assembly to exit through the gas jets.

The I-shaped support connector with a vertical inlet may also have anaperture for accepting or creating a vertical gas jet or jet that iscoaxially positioned with the vertical inlet. It is preferred that thesecond pairs of opposing nipples of this example would have jets thatare pointed up, so that the jets deliver converging gas streams. Thisarrangement will allow the converging gas streams to create a swirlingpattern of gas and air above the H-shaped arrangement. The swirlingpattern of gas will be driven up by gas flowing from the vertical gasjet. It will be understood that the resulting flame will also have anupwardly swirling pattern, and thus will be far more visible and brightthan flame patterns created with previously known systems.

Aboveground gas lines may be made of steel or ductile iron, copper,yellow brass, or aluminum pipe. Steel or ductile iron requires the useof PTFE (such as Teflon®) or other sealants in order to ensure ahermetic seal. These sealants are not designed for use next to flames,and thus steel or iron pipe is not particularly suitable for use as partof a gas flame manifold. Moreover, the appearance of steel or ductileiron piping is not aesthetically pleasing to many. Aluminum and copperare soft, malleable, metals that can produce gas-tight seals, but theiruse is disfavored due to the possibility of corrosion and pitting. Thisleaves brass as a desirable material for creating manifold for anornamental gas flame manifold. However, while brass provides desirablesealing without scarring or marring, corrosion resistance, and aestheticcharacteristics, it presents problems due to its malleability. Thesoftness of brass often leads to unsightly scoring of the surfaces ofthe sections being joined.

Typically, nipples for gas pipes are connected to one another using pipewrenches. Pipe wrenches are used because sections of pipe are typicallycut to length as needed in the field, and then threaded in the field.The cut sections of pipe do not have landings to allow screwing thesections of pipe together, and thus pipe wrenches are commonly used tojoin sections of threaded pipe. The grip provided by the teeth of pipewrenches against the surface of the pipe is needed to ensure a hermeticconnection. However, the engagement of the teeth inherently resultsmarring and gouging, or scarring, of the surfaces of the pipe almostinevitably occurs. This is especially true when the wrenches are used toprovide sufficient torque to the brass sections being joined so as tocreate gastight seals between the components. Accordingly, disclosedembodiments use brass support sections such as pipe wrenches, to createan appropriate seal results in an unsatisfactory appearance on theornamental gas flame manifold.

It has been discovered that problems associated with consistentlycreating sealed connections between sections of the system are greatlyreduced, if not eliminated, by using nipples with integral features thatallow turning of the nipples while connecting the threaded sections,without marring or scratching of the surfaces of the nipples. Thesefeatures allow the assembly and installation of the disclosed systems ina reliable, repeatable manner without marring the surfaces of thenipples. Additionally, the use of a torque wrench provides the benefitof a reliable connection, without the marring of the surfaces of thenipples through the use of pipe wrenches.

Accordingly, it will be understood that the disclosed system provides atleast the following benefits over the prior art:

The integration of the end caps and the nipples that support the jetsresults in fewer leak points;

The use of the jets that use the Venturi effect to accelerate the flowof gas and mix the gas with air results in a taller and brighter flame;

The use of jets with metering side apertures for creating an appropriatefuel-air mixture that is accelerated as the gasflows through the jetresults in a more fuel-efficient system.

It should also be understood that while the above and other advantagesand results of the present invention will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art from the following detailed description andaccompanying drawings, showing the contemplated novel construction,combinations and elements as herein described, and more particularlydefined by the appended claims, it should be clearly understood thatchanges in the precise embodiments of the herein disclosed invention aremeant to be included within the scope of the claims, except insofar asthey may be precluded by the prior art.

DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of thepresent invention according to the best mode presently devised formaking and using the instant invention, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembly used for creating ornamentalflames, the assembly using components and principles of disclosed here.The view also illustrates that the locations of the apertures forsupporting jets along the nipples may be varied, and that nippleswithout jets may be used where the nipple is being used merely as aspacer or conduit.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another arrangement for creatingornamental flames.

FIG. 3 illustrates the use of the disclosed system to create a largerarrangement than the arrangement shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a nipple used with the disclosed system.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a nipple with a “blind,” closed end andpotential aperture locations for accepting jets or “jets” disclosedhere.

FIG. 5A is an end view of the threaded end of to the blind nipple shownin FIG. 5.

FIG. 5B is an end view of the blind end portion of to the blind nippleshown in FIG. 5, the view also illustrating the integral hex surfacesthat may be engaged with a suitable tool, such as a wrench.

FIG. 5C is sectional view taken along the arrows marked “5C” in FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a nipple with a “blind,” closed end andpotential aperture locations for accepting jets or “nozzles” asdisclosed here.

FIG. 6A is an end view of the threaded end of the blind nipple shown inFIG. 6, the view also illustrating the integral hex surfaces that may beengaged with a wrench to create a secure transmission of torque to thenipple during assembly.

FIG. 6B is an end view of the blind end portion of to the blind nippleshown in FIG. 6, the view also illustrating the integral hex surfacesthat may be engaged with a torque wrench.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of preferred examples of the jets used withthe disclosed system.

FIG. 7A is an end view looking towards the threaded end of the exampleshown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 7B is an end view looking towards the hexed end of the exampleshown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 7C is a sectional view taken along the arrows marked “7C” in FIG.7.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another example of the jets used withthe disclosed system.

FIG. 8A is an end view looking towards one of the threaded ends of theexample shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 8B is a sectional view taken along the arrows marked “8B” in FIG.8A.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a jet.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the jet of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 shows an example of an arrangement that creates a single line offlames, the figure also showing examples of features that may beincorporated to facilitate turning the nipples during installation orassembly.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example of a tool that facilitates engaging andturning the nipples of the disclosed system during assembly andinstallation.

FIG. 13 shows a cross section of a socket that may be used in the mannerillustrated in FIG. 12. The example of the socket shows stepped internalsections of progressively smaller diameters. However, it is alsocontemplated that the internal surface may be of a single, continuousshape or cross section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EXEMPLAR EMBODIMENTS

While the invention will be described and disclosed here in connectionwith certain preferred embodiments, the description is not intended tolimit the invention to the specific embodiments shown and describedhere, but rather the invention is intended to cover all alternativeembodiments and modifications that fall within the spirit and scope ofthe invention as defined by the claims included herein as well as anyequivalents of the disclosed and claimed invention.

Turning now to FIG. 1, where an example of the disclosed system 10 forcreating an ornamental flame. The system 10 being particularly wellsuited for creating a swirling flow of gas 12 to create a controlledflame 14. It will be understood from the accompanying drawings that thesystem 10 uses jets 28 that are mounted from jet support sections 16. Apreferred example of the system 10 is made primarily of brass sections,which allows the system to be exposed to the elements and resistcorrosion.

FIG. 1, illustrates that the disclosed system 10 uses the jet supportsections 16 and jet support connections 18 to allow the user to create agas and air mixture delivery pattern that produces swirling of the gasmixture being delivered. Ignition of the gas mixture results in a flamethat produces a wide dispersion of heat and light. The wide dispersionof the heat results in lower flame temperatures, which makes thedisclosed system particularly well suited for creating ornamentalflames.

The accompanying figures, including FIGS. 1 and 5, show that the system10 uses pipe nipples 16 of different lengths as building blocks for thesystem. The pipe nipples may have gas-flow passages that extend throughthe entire nipple, or they may be blind nipples 17 that include a firstend 19 that is threaded and a second end 21 that is closed off, and thus“blind.” The term “blind” is commonly used in mechanical arts to referto a hole or bore that does not extend through the base material, andthus it is not possible to see through the hole. An example of a blindnipple 17 is shown on FIG. 5. It is preferred that the nipples be ofintegral, one-piece, construction. The one-piece, integral, constructionnot only eliminates joints that may leak from improper assembly or fromweathering, but as discussed below also aids in ensuring that the entireassembly is tightened to a proper torque level.

The nipples used with the disclosed system incorporate landings 23 thatallow engagement of the nipple with a wrench. This allows the use of asingle threaded connection the nipple and any connectors that cooperatewith the nipple. Since hexagonal sockets are commonly used with torquewrenches, illustrated examples show the use of landings that create agenerally hexagonal shape. However, it should be noted that any suitableshape for engagement with a wrench or suitable tool may be used, forexample a square, star, or slotted shapes may also be integrated on theblind end.

Having a single threaded connection associated with a particular nippleallows the technician assembling the system to achieving the propertorque level for the connection. Known systems that use galvanized pipe,for example, require the threading and tightening the pipe against asupporting connection, and then a separate cap to the pipe in order tocreate a branch for the system. These two connections in series make itdifficult for the installer to verify that both joints have reachedproper torque, or tightness.

Thus, preferred examples of the pipe nipples 16 used with the disclosedsystem include a passage 22 that extends from the first end 18 towardsthe second end 20, and where required, a bore 24 is made through thesidewalls 26 of the nipples are drilled and tapped so as to accept a jetor jet 28. As discussed above, the jets 28 serve to create a suitableair/fuel mixture and mixture flow velocity for creating the desired sizeand “dancing” aspects of the flames.

As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, a preferred example of the jets 28includes a restricted inlet 30, a side opening 32 and a chamfered exit34. The restricted inlet 30 has external threads 36 that are adapted forengaging mating threads in the bore 24, which allows the bore 24 toserve as a jet support connection 38. Thus, attaching one of the jets 28to the bore 24 will allow pressurized gas within the nipple 16 to flowand expand through the jet 28. This, in turn, will allow the jet to mixthe flow of flammable gas with air drawn through the side opening 32 bymeans of the well-known Venturi effect. Thus, a nipple will function asa jet support section 40, when bored and fitted with at least one jet28.

The use of the disclosed jets 28, or jets, provides important resultsover the prior art, which typically simply provided apertures along amanifold, and did not use the Venturi effect as carried out by thedisclosed system. The jets disclosed here use the Venturi effect to mixgas and air at a ratio that will produce flames of a desired color,temperature, and flame size. The precise size and location of the sideopenings 32 are controlled by the size of the jet 28 and the flameeffect desired from that particular jet. Thus, the use of multiple jets28 in an assembly will allow the manufacturer or installer to customizethe overall flame display through the arrangement of different jets 28along a nipple 16. Typically, the variation is accomplished by varyingthe location and/or size of the side opening 32 so as to vary thefuel-air mixture by a specific jet. Accordingly, it will be understoodthat the disclosed system provides the installer or manufacturer withthe ability to vary the appearance of the overall flame arrangement toachieve configurations that were not achievable with the prior art.

Turning once again to FIG. 1, it will also be understood that thedisclosed system will also use I-shaped support connectors 42. One ofthe I-shaped support connectors, the central I-shaped support connector52, will include a vertical inlet 44 and preferably also have a topaperture 46 for accepting or creating a vertical gas jet 28 that iscoaxially positioned with the vertical inlet 44.

It is further contemplated that the entire system disclosed here willpreferably be made from brass, although stainless steel is also suitableas both of these metals can resist the elements encountered by outdoorfire pits. However, brass is a preferred material due to its ease ofmachining and the aesthetically pleasing finish achieved in the endproduct.

The central I-shaped support connector 52 will have a pair of generallyhorizontal outlets 54. The horizontal outlets being adapted foraccepting the jet support connectors 38. Like the central I-shapedsupport connector 52, other I-shaped support connectors use with thesystem will include an inlet 56 and a pair of outlets 58. Thus, nipples16 will extend from the outlets 54 of the central I-shaped supportconnector 52.

FIGS. 1 and 2 also show that it is preferred that the gas jets 28mounted from parallel jet support connectors 38 will preferably mountedat an acute angle to the jets 28 that extend from the parallel jetsupport connectors 38. This acute angle will result in the air and gasmixtures delivered from these opposing jets will be in generallyconverging paths, leading to swirling of the air and gas mixtures.Additionally, the flow delivered from the vertical jet 60 mounted fromthe central I-shaped support connector 52 will flow up, intersecting theflows from the parallel jet support connectors 38. This convergence offlows has been found to produce surprisingly bright and efficientburning of the gas. Additionally, since the gas flows, and therefore theflames, are well separated from one another, the dispersion of the heatcreated by the flames prevents focused, intense heat, and thus resultsin a safer arrangement than those of the prior art.

Turing now to FIGS. 3 and 4, it will be understood that the principlesused to make the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 can be used to create anexpanded system. The expanded system connecting a pair of H-shapedarrangements 62, the arrangements being supported from a centralI-shaped support connector 52, which also uses vertical gas jet 28.Also, the larger system of FIG. 3 uses a pair of jet support connectors38 which extend from the central I-shaped support connector 52.

Turning to FIGS. 5 and 6, it will be understood that the disclosedsystem can be used to create larger, more complex, burner arrangement.Also, these figures illustrate that elbow sections 64 can also be usedto connect additional of jet support connectors 38 to better coverlarger areas.

Turning now to FIG. 11, which shows an arrangement that creates a singleline of flames, it will be understood a nipple 16 with a blind end 66may include an aperture 68 across the end 70 of the nipple 16. It isalso contemplated that instead of an aperture 68, the end 70 mayinstead, or also, include a slot of a desired shape that cooperates witha turning socket 72, illustrated in FIG. 12.

Turning now to FIG. 12, which shows the turning socket 72 will cooperatewith a wrench handle 74 to turn the nipple 16 in order to tighten orloosen the nipple 16. The blind end 66 of the nipple 12 is referred toas being “blind,” meaning that the bore 24 does not extend through theentire length of the nipple 16. The turning socket 72 includes aninternal bore 78, and also includes an aperture 74 that extends throughthe side 76 of the turning socket 72 and into the internal bore 78. Theaperture74 is positioned such that a pin 80 may be inserted through theaperture 74 in the side 76, and thus allowing the pin 80 to engage theaperture 68 when the blind end 66 has been accepted within the internalbore 78.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view along the length of the turning socket 72,and illustrates that the internal bore 78 of the turning socket 72 mayincorporate stepped internal portions 82 that better accommodatedifferent diameters of nipples.

As discussed above, instead of using the aperture 68 at the blind end66, a slot that cooperates with the pin 80 may be used. Alternatively,the turning socket 72 may include protrusions that extend into theinternal bore 78 and cooperate with the slot or other mating surfaceincorporated in the blind end 66. Also, it is contemplated that handlewith a pin that extends into the aperture 68 may also be used to turnthe nipple. However, the use of a socket such as the turning socket 72offers the advantage that the turning socket 72 may be attached to atorque wrench 82, allowing the torque wrench 82 to be used to ensureproper tightening of the nipple.

Thus it can be appreciated that the above-described embodiments areillustrative of just a few of the numerous variations of arrangements ofthe disclosed elements used to carry out the disclosed invention.Moreover, while the invention has been particularly shown, described andillustrated in detail with reference to preferred embodiments andmodifications thereof, it should be understood that the foregoing andother modifications are exemplary only, and that equivalent changes inform and detail may be made without departing from the true spirit andscope of the invention as claimed, except as precluded by the prior art.

1. A modular burner system comprising: a nipple elongated along an axis;and a plurality of jets connected to the nipple, the jets being spacedfrom each other along the axis; each jet connected to the nipple havinga jet axis and being elongated from the nipple along the jet axis, eachjet connected to the nipple having an exit on the jet axis spaced fromthe nipple to release fuel to fuel a flame at the exit; the jet axis ofat least one of the jets connected to the nipple is at a first anglerelative to the axis and the jet axis of at least one of the jetsconnected to the nipple is at a second angle relative to the axisdifferent than the first angle.
 2. The modular burner system as setforth in claim 1, wherein the axes of the jets extend in the first angleand the second angle in an alternating pattern.
 3. The modular burnersystem as set forth in claim 2, wherein all of the jets connected to thenipple are arranged with the jet axes of adjacent ones of the jetsalternating between the first angle and the second angle.
 4. The modularburner system as set forth in claim 1, wherein all of the jets connectedto the nipple are arranged with the jet axes of adjacent ones of thejets alternating between the first angle and the second angle.
 5. Themodular burner system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first angleand the second angle are each in planes perpendicular to the axis. 6.The modular burner system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the nippleand the jets are brass.
 7. The modular burner system as set forth inclaim 1, wherein the nipple is elongated between ends, the ends of thenipple being on the axis and the nipple being linear on the axis fromone end to the other end.
 8. The modular burner system as set forth inclaim 1, wherein each jet has a smaller cross section than the nipple.9. The modular burner system as set forth in claim 1, wherein: thenipple has a first end, a second end, and a side wall between the firstend and the second end; the side wall defines a bore extending throughthe first end to the second end; and the first end, second end, and sidewall of the nipple are of integral, one piece, construction free ofjoints.
 10. The modular burner system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:the nipple has a first end, a second end, and a side wall between thefirst end and the second end; the side wall defines a bore extendingthrough the first end to the second end; the nipple has a threaded holeextending through the side wall of the nipple to the bore; and the jethas a threaded end threadedly engaged with the threaded hole.
 11. Themodular burner system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the jets includea threaded end spaced from the exit, a wall extending from the threadedend to the exit and defining a bore through the threaded end and theexit.
 12. The modular burner system as set forth in claim 11, wherein adiameter of the bore at the threaded end is less than a diameter of thebore at the free end.
 13. The modular burner system as set forth inclaim 11, wherein the bore of the jet is cylindrical from the threadedend to the exit.
 14. The modular burner system as set forth in claim 1,further comprising a second nipple coaxial with the nipple and a secondplurality of jets connected to the second nipple.
 15. The modular burnersystem as set forth in claim 14, further comprising a connector betweenthe first nipple and the second nipple.
 16. The modular burner system asset forth in claim 15, wherein the connector has an aperture and furthercomprising another jet connected to the aperture of the connector.
 17. Amodular burner system comprising: a nipple elongated along an axis, thenipple having ends on the axis and the nipple being linear on the axisfrom one end to the other end; and a plurality of jets connected to thenipple, the jets being spaced from each other along the axis; each jethaving a smaller cross section than the nipple; each jet having a jetaxis and being elongated from the nipple along the jet axis, each jethaving an exit on the jet axis spaced from the nipple to release fuel tofuel a flame at the exit; the jet axes of some of the jets being at afirst angle relative to the axis and the jet axes of some of the jetsbeing at a second angle relative to the axis different than the firstangle; all of the jets being arranged with the jet axes of adjacent onesof the jets alternating between the first angle and the second angle;and the first angle and the second angle each being in planesperpendicular to the axis.
 18. The modular burner system as set forth inclaim 17, wherein the nipple and the jets are brass.
 19. The modularburner system as set forth in claim 17, wherein the jets include athreaded end spaced from the exit, a wall extending from the threadedend to the exit and defining a bore through the threaded end and theexit.
 20. The modular burner system as set forth in claim 19, wherein adiameter of the bore at the threaded end is less than a diameter of thebore at the free end.